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I was stupid to think it had.
I locate my phone, which is on the coffee table, and check the time. It’s just a few minutes after six. Quickly, before I chicken out, I open up the airline app and book a seat on the next available flight going from Cincinnati to JFK. Then I order an Uber ride.
Quickly and quietly, I dress and pack my belongings. Then I lug my suitcase and my carry-on with me up to the house. Careful not to draw any attention to myself, I pass by the house and walk down the long drive until I’m past the wrought iron gate. There, I wait for my Uber to arrive.
I’ll text Skye and tell her I’m gone—and apologize for leaving so abruptly and without saying goodbye—just before my plane takes off. I should be back in Brooklyn by the time they all sit down for breakfast.
My car arrives promptly, and the driver—a middle-aged woman with a round, freckled face and a big smile—loads my luggage into the trunk.
“Where are you off to so early?” she asks.
“Back home to Brooklyn.”
“How nice. I hope you had a good visit.”
She keeps talking, making friendly idle chit-chat, but all I can do is think about Connor. Last night was amazing, like a dream, and I almost think I must have imagined it.
I should have known it was too good to be true.
Chapter 17
Connor Murphy
I wake up alone in bed, filled with a vague sense of dread, and instantly I know why.
She’s gone.
Still, I get up and search the cottage—the bathroom, the lounge and kitchen, and finally her bedroom—hoping my gut instinct is wrong. But her wardrobe is empty. Her suitcase is gone, as are her toiletries. There’s no sign she was ever here.
I dress quickly and grab my phone off the kitchen counter on my way out the door. Glancing down at the screen, I see I have a message from Angelica. As soon as I read it, my stomach sinks like a stone. “Oh, fuck.”
I race up the path to the house and let myself in through the back door. It’s early yet, barely eight o’clock. Skye is sitting in a rocking chair in the lounge, nursing Nicholas.
When she sees me, she casually drapes a baby blanket over her shoulder. “Good morning,” she says, her expression guarded.
I don’t bother with niceties. “Where is she?” But when Skye gives me a sympathetic look, I know. “She’s gone, isn’t she?”
“I’m afraid so. She booked an early morning flight and called an Uber ride to take her to the airport.”
I check the time. “What time does she take off?”
“In ten minutes. You’ll never make it in time.”
“Did she say why she was leaving?” As if I don’t already know. I’m just hoping I’m wrong, that she didn’t see the text from my aunt.
Skye shakes her head. “I didn’t actually speak to her. She sent me a text from the airport, just before she boarded the plane. All she said was that it wasn’t going to work out between the two of you.”
“I see.” My pulse is pounding, and I want to run my fist through the wall. But I must maintain a stiff upper lip, and all that. I nod toward the back door. “I’d best get back to the cottage. I have some work to catch up on before I leave for the airport.”
“Connor, I’m so sorry,” Skye says. “Do you want some breakfast? It’s nearly ready.”
I shake my head. “Thanks, but I’m not hungry.”
Will walks into the room with Penny, who’s still in her pajamas. He takes one look at me. “I’m sorry, Connor.”
Yeah, apparently everyone knows I’ve been dumped twice now by the same woman. I nod toward the door. “If you’ll excuse me.”
I turn back to the door, but before I reach it, Penny grabs my hand. “It’s okay, Uncle Connor.” She has tears in her eyes. “We’re all sad that Aunt Kennedy left. But don’t worry. Mommy said we’ll see her again soon.”
